Anime Review: Trigun

Quick Info

Summary

In the distant future, on a desert planet called Gunsmoke, a notorious outlaw travels the world, wreaking havoc and destroying cities wherever he goes. His name is Vash the Stampede and he is the $$60,00,000,000 man, and everyone is chasing him, including two insurance girls, Meryl and Milly, who try to keep the damage Vash causes to a minimum.

But Vash's goofy exterior, he hides a dark past that refuses to leave him alone. He must confront the mysterious Gung-Ho Guns and keep his promise to "Take care of Knives".

Impact of Trigun and Licensing Woes

Even after 12 years, Trigun is still a great anime; it’s considered a classic these days. But why is it still so popular even though it’s been out of print for ages after Geneon Entertainment closed, and has recently been relicensed by Funimation Entertainment on DVD. The answer is simple, the characters and story.

This was a gateway to anime for a wide audience because it aired on Adult Swim. It's a classic, right up there with Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Cowboy Bebop. The dub is highly regarded by fans, even if they don't like English dubs.

The Animation

Despite the fact that it wasn’t an exactly faithful adaptation of the manga, it’s still a very good anime to watch. It’s funny, has plenty of action, suspense and depth. The animation may look dated today but it doesn’t look bad, except for a few instances where they re-used animation in a very obvious place.

Trigun Complete Series Trailer:

The English Dub

This review will not cover the Japanese dub with English subtitles because this review is written for people who might just be getting into anime and aren’t “sub purists” who only watch the Japanese version and don’t watch the English version.

The English dub is terrific and everyone sounds great, the performances by Johnny Bosch, who voices Vash the Stampede is perfect and it’s surprising because this was his first anime role. Jeff Nimoy is also great as Nicholas D. Wolfwood, a very unconventional traveling priest. Dorothy Elias-Fahn is also well cast as Meryl Strife and she’s a very good voice actress. Lia Sargent plays the seemingly air-headed insurance girl Milly Thomson and she gives a nice performance and it’s nice to listen to her voice, even though it might get on some audience members ears.

The Soundtrack

The animation is still very nice to look at and the musical score is very memorable, especially the opening theme “H.T.”

The music evokes the feel and emotions of a western and it sounds like something you'd hear in a western. It has a lot of twang and guitars and the music is a wonderful thing to hear. It evokes emotions in the audience and there are musical themes that I think of when I remember Trigun.

Source

The Themes of Trigun

There are also themes concerning pacifism and genocide and also strong aspects of Christianity in the character of Vash the Stampede. Trigun’s themes resonate with many viewers and has made him one of the most memorable and iconic anime characters on screen. It defined anime for many in the U.S. and is considered an anime classic that is a must watch.

Source

Quick Thoughts:

What Works:

What Doesn't Work:

Animation is dated but still good

THe animes' mood changes and it can throw people off

The story is very well done

The English dub is amazing

The soundtrack is awesome

Grade: A+ It's older, but it's a must watch for Anime Fans:

Overall, Trigun is a great anime and it still looks good despite its age, although the characters do sometimes go offmodel. The music is nice and the English dub is very good. The story is worth your time and it’s very deep and meaningful and has a good message, but this is not for kids, as it has stronger language, blood and violence. But it is definitely a classic anime that deserves to be on your shelf. Experience the space western for yourself, it’ll stick with you after it’s over.

It's available on Hulu and YouTube, along with Funimation's official website so there are plenty of ways to see it if you want.